Jan 30, 2015

Plea Bargain Sends 91 Year Old Man To Prison For Nine Years

A press release from Social Security's Office of Inspector General (OIG):

A 91-year-old ex-cop at the heart of a massive Social Security scam
involving more than 120 retired NYPD cops and FDNY firefighters who
raked in millions agreed to a plea deal Friday that could land him
behind bars for up to nine years, prosecutors said.

Thomas Hale copped to grand larceny and agreed to pay $2 million in
restitution in exchange for three to nine years in prison during a
hearing in Manhattan Supreme Court.

“In essence, he was the epicenter of the scheme,” said Assistant DA
Christopher Santora. “Even with respect to the other ring leaders, it
was Mr. Hale who was the hub through which everything and everybody went
right up until this case was taken down and Mr. Hale surrendered for
arrest.”

The nearly $22 million scam that spanned 25 years was orchestrated by
Hale, who coached applicants to lie on their Social Security disability
applications, authorities said.

About half of the defendants exploited 9/11 by falsely claiming they
suffered post-traumatic stress by responding to the attacks.